The 1959 law that first instituted collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin initially only applied to local government workers and teachers, not to state employees. The ordinal law passed only passed because Republicans, who had a 20-12 State Senate majority, supported it. When the law was later changed in 1967 to include collective bargaining for state employees, Republican Warren Knowles was governor and the GOP controlled both houses of the legislature.
The privilege of collective bargaining was provided to public employees by the legislature and it is their "right" to revoke that privilege, which they did earlier this week.
While some may not agree with their decision, it is the legislature's right to grant collective bargaining. It is not a right of the public employees to have collective bargaining.
The manner in which this legislation passed is a disgrace to the legislative process. We elected people to represent us, not run from their duty. We also don't expect to have legislation rammed through which was clearly evident with the short conference committee meeting and the quick vote in the Senate.
The people of Wisconsin deserve better and it is time for elected officials in the State to stand up and do the job they were elected to do and it is time for the public to quit all the harassing and intimidating of these same public servants.
If we want the best and brightest to serve us in Madison, we need to treat them with respect even when we don't agree with them. If we can't work together and agree to disagree I fear for the State. We will discourage well qualified people from running and end up with inferior representation.
It is time to move on and restore the dignity of the respective offices of government and allow the legislative process to work for "We the People."
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